Ice topping device



Oct. 8, 1940. H. Y. HAGGARD 2,217,051

ICE TOPPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 19:59

1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFlCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ice topping devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a device to be used in connection with any standard equipment now procurable on the open market, whereby all white or unagitated ice is eliminated from the top of the block in the freezing process.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction and cheap in manufacture whereby costly equipment such as topping saws and the like are unnecessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide 15 a device which may be used with any standard equipment which not only eliminates the undesired white or unagitated ice from the top of the commercial block, but also tends to form said block with a smaller core within the block.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which forms all commercial blocks uniform in height and said device being adjustable whereby the manufacturers may form blocks of varied heights, with clear tops.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein a means for carrying out the invention are shown and wherein:

Figure l is an isometric view of a topping device constructed in accordance with the invention, having'portions thereof broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the invention applied to a freezing can.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a plan View of the device shown within a freezing can.

In the drawing the numeral l designates a 40 topping device so constructed as to form a hollow box-like structure.

A bottom II is provided having a wall l2 extending upwardly at right angles therefrom. An opening [3 is formed in the bottom H, said hole 45 being in the transverse center but slightly off the longitudinal center of said bottom.

Four top plates l5 are provided, said plates having their inner ends suitably secured to the lips 16 of the hole l3, while their outer ends are 0 similarly secured to the top edges of the side walls l2. All connections between the plates l5, walls l2 and bottom H are so constructed as to prohibit the entrance of either air or water into the interior M of the structure [0.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the device It is provided with'a downwardly central- 1y sloped top. The object of providing a device so constructed is to eliminate damage to the structure by the expansion of water in its freezing process as will hereinafter be explained.

Adjustable hangers I! are welded or'otherwise suitably secured to the top members [5. The hangers I! are provided with notched edges H! on their vertical portions. Spring-wire hooks l9 are arranged to engage the notches I8 at any 10 desired point along the vertical hangers ll. Thus a vertical adjustment of the device I0 is had.

In operation the device 10 is inserted into a freezing can 20 of the usual type. The hooks 4 I9 are adjusted whereby the device 10 will be 16 in the desired position; said position being the desired height of the ice block to be made.

The can 20 is placed in the usual freezing compartment of a freezing unit (not shown). Water is introduced into the can 20 until such time as 20 it reaches a predetermined level A (Fig. 2). It is to be noted that the level A is at a point below the bottom of the device l0 whereby said body is completely above the water. Also the outer perimeter of the device I0 is slightly smaller than 25 the inner perimeter of the can 20 whereby a space B is provided between said device and can. Expansion due to freezing takes place upwardly along the sides of the can until the space E is closed, causing all of the water near the top of 30 the can to be agitated while freezing as air must come through the opening l3. About one and one-half inches of extra water is used so as to close the valve B.

With the predetermined amount of water with- 5 in the container 20 and the device suspended above said water by means of the hangers I1 and hooks I9, the freezing operation begins. This is caused by the unit (not shown) in which the container 20 is disposed. An agitating unit, in the form of an air tube 25 is inserted through the opening l3 in the member ID, said tube terminating at a predetermined depth, said depth being approximately four-fifths of the depth of the can 20.

Air under suitable pressure is introduced through the tube 25 and into the water. The course of the air is clearly shown in Figure 2. The air on passing from the tube finds outlet through the space B, agitating the water on its way. This agitation is provided to remove all air bubbles present in the water in order that a clear ice block may be had.

As the water starts to freeze, the freezing will be around the side walls and bottom of the can 20, as these are closest points next to the freezing units (not shown). As the freezing continues the space B will be closed, and the course of the air will be changed, whereby said air will find outlet through the opening l3.

Continued freezing will form a core C (Fig. 3) in the frozen block D. At this time, it may be seen that the water below the device NJ has at all times been agitated by the air in its freezing process, thus producing a block of clear ice containing a minimum amount of air bubbles, while all unagitated Water has been frozen above the device [0.

Slightly before the freezing process is completed, the original core-water is removed through tube 25 and fresh water substituted therefor also through said tube. This assures a clean core, and due to the disposition of the tube 25 and the course of said air through the opening 13, a comparatively small coreis formed.

The can 20 is removed from the freezing unit (not shown) and placed in a vat (not shown) containing warm water. This step will, of course, break the seal between the block D and the can 20 whereby said block may be removed.

For removing the device 5 0 from the block, upwardly extending tapered tubes 21 are provided. These tubes communicate with the interior M of the device 26, whereby water may be introduced therein through said tubes by suitable auxiliary means (not shown).

As the water in the vat is breaking the seal between the block D and the can 2B, the water within the device It is opening the seal in the space 13 between said device and the can 20.

Thus when the can 29 is removed from the vat (not shown) the topping device, having all undesirable white ice on the top thereof may be removed from the container leaving only a clear commercial block in the can. This block is then removed from said freezing can and stored until the sale thereof.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed Within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a freezing can for ice blocks, a topping device comprising a cover formed of a water tight chamber, an opening substantially in the center of said cover, means arranged for the passage of a heating medium through said chamber, means to suspend said cover in the freezing can, and means for introducing air into the core of the block of ice as an agitating medium to be released around the perimeter of said cover in the process of freezing.

2. In combination with a freezing can for ice blocks, a topping device comprising a cover formed of a water tight chamber, an opening in the approximate center of said cover, means arranged for the passage of a heating medium through said chamber, and means for introducing an agitating medium into the core of the ice block to be released through a space between said cover and said freezing can in the process of freezing.

3. In combination with a freezing can for ice blocks, a topping device including a water tight chamber having a top downwardly inclined toward a central opening therein vertically adjustable suspension means for positioning said top in the freezing can, means for introducing a heating medium within said chamber and means for agitating fluid within said can during the freezing process of said fluid.

HOWARD Y. HAGGARD. 

